Preparations for Evian: GR Meeting Slams Privatisation

national | miscellaneous | news report Thursday May 15, 2003 22:53 by Hansard

A Report from GR Meeting in Liberty Hall, 15th May.

There was a very positive mood at the Globalise Resistance (GR) meeting tonight in Liberty Hall. The meeting concerned the upcoming protests at the G8 summit in Evian, France, which GR are organising two buses to at the end of the month. There were a number of contributions from a range of speakers.

Cllr. Clare Daly (Socialist Party & SIPTU Shop Steward) spoke about the multinationals that withdrew from the Swords area and the process of privatisation in Dublin Airport. In Aer Lingus there were 3000 job losses, cuts in sick pay & holidays, and there was a lower quality of service due to preparations for privatisation. She made the point that privatisation was in reality a "theft of the taxpayer" and "legalised robery". Quoting James Connolly, Clare mentioned that our movement was "the great anti-theft movement".

Bill McCamley (CIE woker director & SIPTU member) spoke about the neo-liberal agenda being carried out in Dublin Bus. He was scathing of the neutered Trade Unions and the "weasal words from Pat Rabbitte" and the other established political parties. The argument for privatisation from the Government were based on "lies and half truths from Seamus Brennan". Bill informed the meeting of Dublin Bus workers establishing strike committees and the determination to resist the break-up of public transport.

Rory Hearne (Globalise Resistance & Socialist Workers' Party) spoke about the blatent imperialism that was evident in the War on Iraq. Rory also spoke about the potential to build a movement here in Ireland, especially with Ireland holding the EU Presidency next year. Other speakers included Gene Simons (Debt and Development Coalition), Donnachadha Ó Brian (Attac) and Aoife (Ógra Shinn Féin).

There were two main contributions from the floor - from Joe Carolan (Socailist Workers' Party) and Oisín Kelly (incoming UCDSU Education Officer & Socialist Party). Joe argued that the EU is not an organisation that is in the interests of workers in Europe or internationally. He also made the point that Evian will be very inspiring for most going. Oisín spoke about the corporatisation agenda in Education, in particular in UCD. Oisín also mentioned the need for ordinary people to "wage a war over resources- a fight for democratic public ownership".

GR will have a protest at the Dept of Transport on 26th May. The GR buses going to Evian will leave Dublin on Wednesday 28th and Friday 30th May, returning on Tuesday 3rd.